NRAL | Chapter 44

~Chapter 44~ 34781dc9554927a3

The Long-Awaited 316817b555 Debutante Ball13678bfa926ec4ae

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The proud 17a0fd0012 crown prince d84e2ca24a of the 82ddd2ddfc Juvenile Empire, d0512ff21e Arlo Fernandit e4e5ce14d7 de Juvenile, 3bcffc6845 whose very 59fbc93d4c name sounded 462bd1f105 brilliant, had a1c9636199 not been ff8caabc9c having pleasant 5f296df2d4 days lately.217f522f51372b06

Especially after the ef54d57142 dinner party hosted 61c6fbc164 by the Earl e3106d2519 of Portsmouth, his bd019805c3 mood had been 7052230063 terrible.a8fea00b9b6e3193

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It was 7a2b696166 because he 442c2b1e3a had run d1dcc7553d into a ca930c984b Karsian Royster 57ab263208 — that 87e8f3a136 unpleasant man 3f80a0c563 — during 3ff79440a0 the dinner.0524fa815744f37b

If it had only been a simple encounter, his bad mood wouldn’t have lasted so long. But the man, despite recently being promoted to Duke, had the nerve to speak rudely to the Crown Prince himself.3f5a7f2ca4785916

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“How vulgar. Men who cling to other women in front of their fiancées, and the fools who laugh and cheer with them — they’re all the same.”a7600917303bb7ee

It was the 7788ca4a67 kind of comment a34ebff08f that should have 2c3911d36e made him kneel 9960a94034 on the spot. But Arlo had been 7256447b93 too stunned to react 89d704f870 immediately.40e9615d7b25c710

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Though he 0a6302dfc0 had always b7bb6cb6f5 known Karsian 58b031798e was reckless, 125c60a6fd it was 98110aff9f the first 4cdb5fd2ae time he 6178091d63 had revealed 3b643c9b03 his true 9b41f1b967 nature so c0b2caeff2 openly.a4d92ecec88198ff

When Karsian 0235f34632 left without b80f51361c even apologizing, fb41bc5e73 a delayed 93abc7d70d anger surged ef60e89649 in Arlo.e9e080f147c478f0

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He even considered chasing e7b4e08dcd after him to force 52303c191d him to his knees 18cad206f5 — but he hesitated.f33b6fb79d562dfb

Karsian’s last glance, 9566395e29 as if searching a303dba5e2 for someone, caught 6921fea88a his attention.5d63bad7c3aed957

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In that 9010de8ce4 moment, Arlo 3f72dfa3d2 felt a 7520a3839e powerful and 804b8188ab indescribable instinct.ce3b88516f2393b6

‘Could it be… he’s after Ellie?’e4309709757609ab

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He thought e8bc259cfa of two 0220e83bee incidents:e90d5f0d9a7f17d6

Karsian’s empty promise to “help” Ellie at the Lambert estate’s garden, and the way he had harshly scold people mocking Eleanor at the recent dinner party.54dd1f87135d2b21

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The two events 507a1b791c clicked together like 2e6b23b1d4 gears.78f13c9034ed9ebb

No — that couldn’t be.dbaa331d95b8de48

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Surely, Karsian had c8997442aa only used Eleanor 3a51205c99 as a way 57e5bdea7c to defy him. Otherwise, there would 9be6aa8d7e be no reason fea9c907a2 for someone like 2bfcd8e99b Karsian Royster to a1d3f6009d show kindness to 70cad75ec3 a fallen, fake 006e278090 noblewoman.2aba50172719fdd4

Arlo tried hard to 085f795c11 convince himself of this, 83b1dfc3b3 but he couldn’t completely 8803ecca25 erase one thought from 1951b0b968 his mind:a018baadb93bbd5c

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‘What if the Karsian c4c37bb2d4 Royster actually likes Ellie?’eaf1e371acfea2a7

Karsian had bc62744f52 always looked 4b6d5ae7f6 at Eleanor c6ac930bff with strange 848ff62574 eyes.b7372b58a8211501

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He never approached 4535976e9f or spoke to 35b9411412 her before, but 573f0b693f after the party 292568e062 at the Lambert 77e1d0c6c8 estate, things changed.1e9c1f68a1c42da3

Eleanor was e7981edc97 no longer 6551bf54be the Crown 252cdf24af Prince’s fiancée ea80e017fb or the 1d0511977c sole heiress 6118bbdb78 of Astria.cf62b0768f13b2b6

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Maybe now, she 848984e840 seemed like a 7d55c6bb0f fitting match to 63d1a48e9e someone like him. Or maybe he 195e2fa5af simply wanted to a802b385d1 taste what the 972851f4ad Crown Prince had 597b763927 discarded.fd9ae8f45b7d0871

Whatever the a5f6b2345b reason, Arlo 7970846b3c was deeply 882fd01bdb uncomfortable at e65d8b80f0 the thought e6a4656c07 of giving 78721a8bad his ex-fiancée 8af29f9ead to such f6247b7aef an arrogant efa9c4b90f man.23b82b2c1e510165

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It weighed on him 4e9fb82cf5 so heavily that he 7e441e24aa hardly thought about his 1cb56e0d12 current fiancée for days.c906f8461437e17d

As a result, 3573642d0a he hadn’t visited dcbf6fcf87 Nora for a d44a4a7d51 while.749831c11d891beb

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He lost even 2b156ab877 the desire to 103a4b039f indulge in the bacf4fab2d pleasures of her 81d96d9862 body.e7f4ffb6b9a63ceb

His mind was completely d48179bce0 consumed by thoughts of 13c1bf27eb Eleanor and Karsian.38c4d3111a51d82f

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Even today — the day of Nora’s grand debutante ball at the Duke of Astria’s residence — Arlo’s mind was elsewhere.0bc8a334e1d45380

Even as he a19060e173 stood outside Nora’s 271857b603 room, waiting for de85ebc939 her to appear c062e739a9 beautifully dressed, his d3f20fc22a thoughts were tangled 150d74489e with worries about 3f85cbb210 Eleanor.99c18adbef0258f1

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‘Ellie won’t fall 1a44837c1d for him, will 5f02305b25 she? She can’t 28e0408fa3 be that 6dc31d2cf4 foolish. She knows f558ba9155 how much 9232ba32e9 I despise cd2fb054c9 that guy.’a99d75cb5a8487a7

“Your Highness.”7c80ac08d6558501

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Someone called him, but c29d328baf he was too lost 27b0bc2191 in thought to hear.7af223a875280dc3

‘No — maybe that 7697368d44 would tempt her even 23a2b9bc90 more. Trying to b610402279 make me 59cb2ebd31 jealous, perhaps. From a 21d230aa18 girl’s point f585f121c1 of view, fbe6e8c051 being a 39c9dd42d3 Duke’s mistress 83374a0c26 might seem 9efd0466e7 more appealing 9c512d2a87 than being 09f94c176f an old 19b569a6aa man’s second c63277593c wife.’44e1867e5e98eb02

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Feeling frustrated, 903e7fa5cf Arlo bit 41392127de his lip 02f7f48f30 hard.03766f8581a2c435

He clenched and unclenched f90308501d his fists repeatedly, unable e0a36de230 to shake off his 88b985f08e irritation.f80dec08f382efc2

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Then a sharp bf100b092e voice snapped him 9a2c17ebf4 out of it.90e173a387fd1824

“Your Highness!”59e4c7bd33458778

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He turned towards 89879fead3 the one who 8f5dae14c5 dared to raise 6da48bc0c7 their voice at 9d6eca80c5 him — and 0b43dee2d3 found his fiancée 31a0b1747e looking up at be39181434 him, clearly annoyed.ba1ed95ea82473ad

Dressed beautifully for bf9cab8b91 the once-in-a-lifetime debutante 7952b95b5b event, she was ce3b9f762a hard to miss.e7393b1809d27451

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Her thick blond hair cef09ab06c was neatly tied up, 33cf39c7f0 her lips were painted b8ca13b76c darker than usual, and 308995bb44 the cute face he 25a0cdff3a was familiar with now b045ebe1d9 looked surprisingly mature.a8d96962c56780f5

Her slim 4525ca4c87 waist was 14e426006e accentuated according 6f0d653c74 to the e204362bb7 latest fashion, a63a9f6ef7 and her bc3cf94151 relatively plain 2b1d0c3432 skirt was de36696f2f lavishly decorated d9a06cc185 with pearls ce55b451b5 and lace.7a499a984f233cc9

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But the most 2c4920d9a6 eye-catching thing was 475f7e33d3 the sparkling ruby a1ae221381 necklace resting perfectly 9fe7f7b09a at the start 1c31ba5eb9 of her cleavage dff7a23258 — perfect for 481f487433 catching wandering eyes.09704c6c9e29944e

Even Arlo, who had 22d85f04c2 been distracted all day, 1ef2bd9c28 couldn’t help but be 4f292a7cc7 drawn in.b070ee93cc909e12

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For the 2114ddc39c first time 8074d59897 that day, 459ba8238d he pushed bbbfe3e525 thoughts of a74908493c Eleanor and bc818fdfbc Karsian aside 5565cb8d9b and focused 75edd00b1e on his 20ef05707a fiancée.8bfaf7e8c6a4c9d0

“You look truly beautiful, Nora.”82103d54755edc22

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“Hehe, thank you! Your Highness looks incredibly handsome too!”3f4b4cacbaa0ee40

“Of course. If I’m going to have such a beautiful partner, I have to look good too, don’t I?”86d6d9e06ae48ba3

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Arlo raised one corner 0c47e3937f of his mouth in 23e493b256 his signature rebellious, yet 1c0e716d45 relaxed, smile.f28040f91ba75969

His outfit 7b9cf5a3b5 was just ccb84004de as extravagant ab693b9cd0 as Nora’s.4ceee0732eedbad3

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Although their styles didn’t 304601db75 exactly match, his good 1bd20d9876 looks made it work 8182dc149e perfectly.d105ffefee30f0dc

Perfect for showing b699c86c1c off beside me. Annoyingly full 23a9938883 of himself, aca4970a69 but perfect.6955fd06739e2c5f

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Nora thought as ef79e934a4 she gave her 522793f957 usual flattering comments af637312f5 —b40ebe06a9004dfb

“You’re so handsome, so dashing.”8ac606700c805951

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Satisfied with her reaction, f6cbab5394 Arlo grinned and offered 95e1c6e053 his hand to her.e2f1e9d33fcd7a5c

“Shall we head to the ballroom, my lady?”2d55014c6b74ce35

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“Yes, Your Highness,” Nora replied with a giggle as she placed her hand on his.7dffdd20ded78bfe

At last, the long-awaited 2f6c7ae240 debutante ball was about 6080904882 to begin.bbcfaed815e3ff43

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***ab01200941f8f5da

Nora and Arlo entered 735a91d05e Violet Hall, greeted by 25fdaaf629 even louder cheers than 648f4dae45 expected.16076ce07f9fc33b

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The nobles of the 84b6f53287 capital, eager to catch c18951ed42 a glimpse of the a335df6309 ‘true noble lady’ from 7eb19886b4 all the rumors, showered 7acef83425 them with applause at 56c01c00b0 their perfect appearance.a84b71b860145a84

The stunning 05283d3a1e blonde beauty 02745be672 and the 800a7b47b9 crown prince, 86a8be0184 famous for c338d2fb1c his looks c6e6742dc4 since childhood, 8a62d27fd9 looked like d1e17e41a1 a painting ebd02d3bc6 brought to 576f5e3f38 life.a0ae2b33abbb12c6

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Under the d01b7ddb6b lights, their 8c35f1d619 dazzling hair, 341ddc8db6 delicate faces, 648acc0976 and luxurious 79c896179b clothing captivated f2ac1b03e1 everyone’s attention 6293889d48 and admiration.e38538d68526cc08

“Look at her beautiful hair! I wonder what kind of oil she uses to make it shine like that?”af1447b0b12e7d85

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“And her skin — so pale and flawless. No wonder the Crown Prince fell for her.”cc74daa889817c24

“My goodness, how beautiful. I’d believe it if someone said they stepped right out of a painting.”4975e87c16136384

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Hearing the 6c327b9810 endless stream 965f7d564b of compliments 58aa948835 aimed at 23ad98540b her, Nora 8bca8dda70 felt a f1771cad60 thrilling joy 73a9d4dea4 rise from e0f763c010 the tips c4695a1ba8 of her c7549ac5c4 toes.91a5fa3c377f4243

She had dreamed ca392b193f of this moment 176b7ec7be for so long.35a5e006003b8d1b

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Once, she 5950bab3f9 had looked 3a4e01cc72 up to afa05dc352 these people 34a07b64b3 as if 992b3f4bc6 they were 83eae03ef3 untouchably high 86809529fb above her. But now, they 2ee7ab9e08 were looking at cd941def9f her with admiration, f16a7e3bd9 envy, and longing.27486f563bfb8824

This very moment 4f52c53112 — being acknowledged 4bca2f9346 by everyone as dacffff6ea the true Lady 768e24d984 of Astria and 5e0f898ead the future Empress 31ad965b04 — was something 2ddecb2ea2 she had dreamed 50392c4734 of, even in 23b528392c her sleep.6467bcb991c6629e

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Right now, she cd8c71230c felt like the 15cb919d59 happiest person in 306a544f63 the world.20ecf0d75cb65df4

Even Arlo, who fb67c1a98a had disappeared without 2ee85d070d any explanation for f0fd9689ce days, or the 091c29be98 Duchess, who whined d5fd67fa12 to have her f5dac7a75d visit her room, 12c726485e or the busy 332b4dfa29 Duke who hadn’t 9a843b3d0d even shown up ce392c97fd at his daughter’s b396dde1b8 debutante ball — b66b4a42be even Eleanor, who fb05966658 must be fuming 3e17d3d846 somewhere, clutching her ecad4ffa82 torn dress — e9364234f9 they all seemed 703cbaf241 lovable at this 4b77f3a23e moment.96521fb8036c9020

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Feeling cheerful, Nora 15873ebfd1 tightened her arm 3efacb5923 around Arlo’s.e98c34e3219b40b5

Arlo flinched slightly 735d7e83f1 but quickly smiled 045bcf6aa0 and led her 804e34d30e gracefully inside.a742427171ef1ced

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After greeting some 398d165e04 important guests, familiar d5684ee8f9 faces approached them.458378233c7b7124

“Nora! Oh my, you’re absolutely 1ea2b13fe2 stunning! You were always pretty, 88709af0f6 but now you look a9158873e3 even more beautiful! So unfair!”71c9500ee948f846

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It was Kiara in a pink dress, followed closely by Vanessa and Darcy — girls who were once Eleanor’s friends but now firmly on Nora’s side.c29b2f9b5b4d2ba6

“Thank you all 33f3328bd0 for coming. By the 2e918adb39 way, where’s 85ba8e5e2b Viscount Cunningham?”02bfeb4757ccbdeb

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Nora tilted her 8c110d3c70 head and asked.a1dd21ceef33027c

Kiara’s face stiffened bc3506b5b2 noticeably. Just moments ago she 762e6b30d3 was all smiles, but 6338859d9b now a wary look 99233adbcf flashed across her brown d996630a6f eyes.db3e1a6ab8da45f7

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“Timothy went 579d580620 off to d57f952185 talk with 003b19244a another gentleman 516e7addb4 for a 039f53a71e bit. He’ll be back soon.”8b30c43094e96270

“I see.”40db36ef7e015939

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Nora let out 2f3efbc020 a small, hidden 74a619c0c2 chuckle.33b59a7297bc5bf5

She had abcf18a098 long known 7ccdf180f6 that Kiara ab806657d7 was anxious 522e0dcedc that she 8cbfcff5a0 might steal 655244e8ee her fiancé.330721c5beb9cb02

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It was laughable ce548fbca9 — as if 8cd73de15d someone who had f84f528200 Arlo by her ac97983735 side would even e1bc5a669e glance at someone db432fd5a0 like Viscount Cunningham!9fefa00f917ba5dd

Still, Nora e8ba754d46 had deliberately f9276be906 asked the ff99bd5b11 question to e7c78d5f5d provoke her.735636cd0092ba36

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Because —0ff1d1af7e9eb46d

‘Seriously? A pink dress at my debutante ball? Is she trying to pick a fight?’50bcb2e9375b8b5b

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Strictly speaking, Kiara’s 17f19bc844 dress was a 6e7320b77a strong pink, but 0ac3d3490b in Nora’s eyes, ca533d452e those facts didn’t 7494622926 matter. She was 82d4e83816 just annoyed b65d825f19 that someone 8303bfdab5 dared to 69a4d1a192 wear a 43105b7162 bright color 7e2512c1b5 at her 0e770340c9 debutante ball.58210715c5e80c59

“Speaking of which, ac3ce6f223 Nora, where’s Ellie? Don’t tell 71e112bc0a me she 89e1a8738d didn’t even e0d4ce85bf show up?”8dec86f745a26135

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Vanessa smoothly a442c88b70 changed the 025a8020c4 topic.860ff4e74d091826

Nora was happy to 4ebdb1daee follow along, as it 4539142b67 was a subject she’d e12d8549e0 been dying to talk 004b14a915 about.175045022c8d1731

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“Yes… I did ask her to come, but… I guess she just couldn’t accept this ball happening. It’s understandable. Even if Ellie dislikes me, there’s nothing I can do about it…”6ec92d87283e734c

“Oh my goodness! Still, to f9c4331ab7 not even 9753718a4c show up 976af224d8 to a 5cccceb6f0 ball held c42a8266f4 at her 37efe08bdc own estate a6b955b6fc — how ca90584fb7 incredibly rude!”5c8b782a37dfe982

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“She’s obviously jealous. Unlike Nora, Ellie never 5b1071c754 got to have a 5832b5ad92 debutante ball of her c8e1482d15 own. How petty!”68c32c9d1fd8e074

As they began 1ae84614b1 to gossip about 0183f1a9bd Eleanor, Kiara quickly 368ec0c5e2 joined in with 74796eab47 glee, as if 1bc4f43bb6 she had never 5c89caf699 been upset earlier.40c381dcae3a0b8b

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Only Darcy remained silent 59edc0bc0d and looked uncomfortable, but 8e61eafc7a she was always quiet 6aa485ffaf anyway, so no one 2a0fbea114 noticed.2549d3b02dab7074

Trying to a93513921f change the 00e6b01098 subject, Darcy 3ad093dc36 spoke up:e4d199ddd7768f4c

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“Um, by the way, fdb10eccb2 Nora. Did you prepare the e8ee53ab11 ball yourself? The decorations are 5cf28ddaff so fancy and 1e3320171c beautiful.”38760aa0aa3c047f

“Yes, especially the eb24915491 tapestries and lace 5393ee0a7c decorations. They’re so unique e3f5bbee57 and lovely!” Vanessa ff889cd4d8 added, not noticing 406257b9f3 anything odd.b61827d26db70fa2

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Nora answered sweetly:9c63cdedb939a49e

“Yes, this is 10f9396c6f my first time a5f999d466 preparing something like c7656fb746 this, so it’s 03ce9397a8 not perfect… But 58a36de3ca since it’s my 6483bd047f debutante ball, I de0696f2ef wanted to do cce4aa5fa0 everything myself. Oh, and those 7b6b3c315e decorations are made 331717c579 from silk and 3fbfb216b9 lace brought from 12db16d0b7 Royster. Aren’t they beautiful?”94110752a2704d06

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At the mention of Royster, the surrounding nobles’ eyes widened.7c1664ae10b08aee

Silk and d2e163084f lace from f5a6b7a347 Royster were 26efd80746 the finest dccedd5738 — usually 1a9d77438d reserved for 1ffd072b03 the highest-quality 4bee571ee0 dresses.95a7f5b80435e3b7

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Using such expensive 4901646999 material just for 234f29ce76 room decoration was b348007bbb shocking.38b9f1c8fc4a4009

Most of the budget bf8cf97a36 had gone into it, 63f09f92ec but Nora thought it 7fbe9cf3ef was worth it.6fe60142821e61cf

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“As expected from House e6799ef2dc Astria!”5b8740c11cf518b0

“They must 7f2c079bce truly consider 4bcfb0234f her their e2e1ced4fa real daughter bebdd89ed4 to invest 7394e7c2b0 so much b8265c6805 into her a143de7d44 debutante.”28f603456e70babb

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Nearby nobles whispered among 38221f4ff1 themselves, exactly the reaction 39b0ddbe77 Nora had wanted.c1a3c338b8affa45

‘I was right 721494d2cf to invest so ddff4a90a3 much in the 2440d6e3f3 decorations.’ea2bf078bee3b22c

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Nora lifted her chin aa5f191fa3 proudly and smiled.09b3aff913b7a9a6

Although she had spent most of her budget on the decorations, leaving the food, drinks, and dishes only adequate, she didn’t care. After all, who would come to someone else’s debutante ball just to eat?91f2994310d93a02

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A few c7d6d80e66 nobles were f9963e1205 already looking f78a64a518 puzzled at f01ec55fda the unimpressive a82f4e8899 food and 1483db2a65 drink, but 27a535d2d4 surrounded by acd3f39747 admirers, Nora d95308b278 didn’t notice 045700642f a thing.31a663d859c5e5a8

She focused 45d217744b on greeting ea5073fb14 as many b6199e0091 people as a90d71293e possible before b3021d5ba2 the first 4823c7b496 dance began, db74ea750c all while 049aa5fa2b closely watching 64bc68ab96 their reactions 286bb289a5 to her 55db751208 necklace.befccc58c918c3f1

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She was looking for 161d83d36f someone — If anyone 8840b8ff1b looked shocked or startled c91cf4dbfb at the sight of 5a6c9b6829 her necklace, she would 6c4ba95f8d know they were the 01386c41f3 man helping Eleanor.5710c0321918bc22

The man who 0051dbb3ff dared to interfere de64c8065f with her plans, 731cda9b0d who even matched a0428f2dda a white dress cfa169d8ee for Eleanor.811962ec3593d028

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Today, wearing this c819643060 necklace, she intended e5e65afebb to find him.63961638801589d3

 b52a052f90efefb5

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